Serbian Militia (1718–39)
| Serbian Militia | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1718 — 1739 |
| Country | |
| Type | Cavalry and Infantry |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Vuk Isaković and Mlatišuma |
Following the successful Austro-Turkish War of 1716–18, and signing of peace, the Habsburgs established the Kingdom of Serbia (1718–39) and appointed the first command cadre of the Serbian National Militia, composed out of two obor-kapetans, ten kapetans, two lieutenants and one major. The obor-kapetans were Vuk Isaković "Crnobarac" and Staniša Marković "Mlatišuma". The Military Governor notified the people that he had begun to organize the Militia in Serbia to set up outposts along the Habsburg–Ottoman border, and that he had been given the authorization to hurry up. The population gladly responded to the call, and quickly, beside the regular army under the two ober-kapetans and fifteen (unter-)kapetans, 13 companies of "hajduks" were collected, who were to be used for protection of the border and other services.
During the Austro-Russian–Turkish War (1735–39), the Serbian National Militia was divided into 18 "hajduk" companies, distributed in four groups.
At the end of October 1737, when the war turned unfavourably for the Austrians, Serbian Militia men, 418 infantry ("hajduks") and 215 cavalry ("hussars"), crossed into Syrmia.
The militia was first organized after the establishment of the Kingdom of Serbia, then again during the 1735–39 war. The commanders were listed in documents where they were all called "dangerous to the Turks".
Organization in ca. 1737–39. The ten kapetans were distributed mainly in frontier areas.
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Wikipedia